Archive

Posts Tagged ‘sci-fi’

9 Movie

September 11th, 2009
9 Movie

9

Rating: ★★½☆☆

Movie: 9 (2009)

Studio : Relativity Media

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 81 min

Website : Official 9 Site

Trailer :http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7ty3i



Review:

I’ve seen burnt-out radioactive wastelands, cities crumpled to ashes from the lasers of flying saucers, jungle-clad skyscrapers of dead cities, and giant biblical meteors/volcanoes/global warming ready to take out 95% of the human population. Out of all the end-of-the-world scenarios I have seen, I did not expect to find a film that would center on a dead 30’s-era fascist empire, let alone one that was animated and has no steampunk elements in it.

Shane Acker’s vision is quite intricate right down to the very aperture blades of his protagonists’ eyes. Character designs for the film are fantastic and I spent a fair amount of time fascinated looking at the character models and the way they interacted with a lightly stylized but palpable end of the world. 9, as well as his eight aptly named automaton brothers and sisters, are the last known forms of sentient “life” in the world. When an arcane device reawakens what destroyed the world (no spoilers!), it is up to them to decide the fate of the world.

As you may tell, the plot is where you will probably find yourself underwhelmed. The acting is not great; that’s not to say it’s not bad either, it just feels very samey: like you’ve seen these character templates before in the same sort of film, complete with a few rehashed one-liners. I do admit to thinking that some characters were more memorable than others, like Martin Landau’s wise but inquisitive #2, but there was nothing really there to keep me interested in their roles.

Perhaps I’m jaded from these sort of movies, or I followed the hype more than I should have. This movie does fulfill a sweet tooth for the person with a taste for eye candy, but I could not really tell you much else that drew me to the film. In short: it’s this year’s Hellboy 2.

-Donald Lee

Adventure, Animation, Fantasy, In Theaters, Sci-Fi , , , ,

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

August 16th, 2009
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Movie: G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)

Studio : Paramount Pictures

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 118min

Website : gijoemovie.com

Trailer :http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xa0ryb



Review:

And so comes one of the most anticipated movies of the year, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. Having been a fan of the cartoons and the action figures as a kid, I was excited to see this movie. As I watched, that excitement dwindled.

This movie seems to want to do for the cartoons what Phantom Menace did for the Star Wars movies. At the beginning of the film, we see two Special Op soldiers, Duke and Ripcord, being recruited for the G.I. Joe unit led by General Hawk. Their current mission seems to involve the retrieval of four nuclear warheads from the evil Cobras, before they destroy world landmarks, although this plot element unfolded in such a slapdash manner that I had a hard time grasping the logic of why the Joes would even be involved in this mission.

No matter: you don’t watch a movie like this for the story, which seems to be mostly background material so that the makers can create explosions and dogfights for the blockbuster action crowd. That being said, the movie is well-made on a technical level, but the special effects don’t make up for a lack of story. I love an action movie best when well-drawn characters who are fighting for something at stake. For most of the movie, I didn’t care whether the Joes retrieved these warheads because the makers didn’t take the time to make characters we could root for (the cartoons, campy as they were, actually had stories and distinguishing differences between characters).

The movie began to grow on me in the last hour, as some of the backstories involving Storm Shadow, a troubled ninja, and Barroness, Duke’s ex-fiance gone Cobra, engaged my interest. Marlon Wayans also provides some good comic relief as Ripcord as he jive-talks and takes pratfalls in a robotic suit of armor, but these things don’t bring the movie up to the level.

The ending all but tells us that there will be a sequel in the future. If and when it comes out, I’ll probably end up watching it on someone else’s Netflix subscription with a group of friends and a case of beer. If you must see this movie, I recommend that you learn from my mistake and save it for that particular forum.

-Craig Wynne

Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller , , ,

Star Trek – Action Adventure Drama Sci-fi

May 17th, 2009
Star Trek - Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto

Star Trek - Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto

Rating: ★★★★★

Movie: Star Trek (2009)

Studio : Paramount Pictures

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 127min

Website : startrek.com

Trailer :
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7grwn

Review:

There is little to say about Star Trek. The movie in two words: Absolutely Amazing. The new Star Trek not only brings in great actors who played the parts perfectly but it was by far one of the best sequels of the film world to date. I personally have not seen any Star Trek movies or episodes in the past by any means. With that in mind; this movie really shocked me!

I cannot believe how intense a situation can get onboard a starship! Is captain Kirk really that much of a controlling character in the original series? Aside from that fact, I really liked the creative scenes that were put together involving both Kirk(Chris Spine) and Spock(Zachary Quinto)!

Throughout the beginning of the film they were fighting to be the man in control but they both accepted each other through their own way and are working together as possibly the best duo tandem this film industry has ever seen.

The new Star Trek promises glorious action, exacerbate drama, enormous laughter, and diabolical intelligence all wrapped into a two hour film. Star Trek is one of the best movies on the market right now so don’t miss your chance to see it!
Fandango  - We've Got Your Movie Tickets!

Delicious Bookmark this on Delicious

-Trent M.

Action, Adventure, Drama, In Theaters, Sci-Fi , , , , , , , ,

Knowing – Action Thriller Movie

April 5th, 2009

Knowing - Nicolas Cage

Knowing - Nicolas Cage

Rating: ★★★½☆

Movie: Knowing(2009)

Studio: Escape Artists

Info: Click Here

Runtime: 121min

Website: knowing-themovie.com

Trailer:http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8smez

Review :

The power of original imagination is very exciting and often it opens us up to a fresh, new perspective. Knowing is one such movie that will make you think from beginning to end. Taut and highly imaginative screenplay from Ryan Pearson, as well as innovative lens work from director Alex Proyas, provides a bizarre feeling for the movie. It does not use daring visual effects, but nonetheless, instills fear in the audience.

The story is centered on a revered man, John Koestler, (Nicholas Cage) who happens to be the chairperson of a Historical Society. One day he is requested to examine something that has been dug out from the backyard of an elementary school. Incidentally, his son Caleb is a student there. To his amazement, he finds that these are a set of predictions made by Tykes 1958. He feels that it was not the correct moment for the time capsule to have come to attention; however, an underground water break was to blame for the accidental discovery.

The time capsule suggests the calamity tolls and dates of each major disaster of last 50 years. To his surprise, he finds three disasters hinting at a future date and among them, one happens to be pan-global disaster involving him and his son.

John tries to suggest the impact of the unforeseen disasters to his colleagues and townsmen but is ignored. Not one to sit dejected in the face of adversity, John takes the help of a couple of people (daughter and granddaughter of author of Prophecies) and accepts the challenge.

The movie beautifully touches and titillates us intellectually.

Nicholas Cage, as always, is a sheer delight to watch.
Fandango  - We've Got Your Movie Tickets!

-Edited by Rob G. & David S.

Action, Just left Theaters, Thriller , , , , ,